The recent release of a long-awaited study on the size of Turkey's population of internally displaced persons (IDPs) has refocused attention on this enduring problem, raising questions about Ankara's dedication to addressing the issue.

Turkey's IDP problem is connected to the turbulence of the 1980's and 1990's, when Turkish security forces battled guerillas from the outlawed Kurdistan

Benedict XVI angered Muslims in September by quoting a 14th-century Byzantine emperor, who disparaged Islam as "evil and inhuman." A significant portion of the pope's trip to Turkey was devoted to repairing the damage done by that speech. In Istanbul, the pope visited the Blue Mosque, where he prayed with the Grand Mufti of Istanbul, Mustafa Cagrici.

Pope Benedict XVI's four-day visit to Turkey, which concluded December 1, appears to have fulfilled its main aims. It succeeded in promoting closer ties between the Roman Catholic and Eastern Orthodox Churches, and repaired the pope's image among Muslims.

Pope Benedict XVI arrived November 28 in Turkey on perhaps the most important foreign trip of his pontificate so far. The pope will try both to assuage cautious Muslims and promote reconciliation among Christians during his four-day visit.

The results of the November 17 summit of the leaders of Turkic-speaking nations exceeded the expectations of many diplomats and political analysts. The presidents of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Turkey took the first steps toward the creation of a Turkic commonwealth, giving an enthusiastic endorsement to efforts aimed at strengthening energy and security ties.

Turkey, seeking to revive a plan to forge a Turkic Commonwealth, will play host November 17 to the leaders of Azerbaijan and all Central Asian states, except Tajikistan. Summit participants are expected to explore ways of turning energy abundance into greater collective geopolitical influence.

In awarding the 2006 Nobel Prize for Literature to Orhan Pamuk, the Swedish Academy stressed the Turkish author's literary skill. However, analysts and critics see unmistakeable evidence of political motives in the decision.

Russian plans for a new natural gas pipeline are placing Turkey in a tough position. The new Russian route would use Turkey as a transit point for exports to the European Union, in effect creating a direct competitor to Turkish-controlled ventures. Given Ankara's interests in joining the EU, however, Turkish officials are reluctant to be seen as creating hurdles for the project.